Artesia Mayor: Dozens Freed From Immigrant Center – The Associated Press
The mayor of a New Mexico city where immigration authorities are holding nearly 500 detainees says dozens of immigrants have been released.
Artesia Mayor Phillip Burch told The Associated Press that 68 detainees were released and around 14 were deported last week. He says federal immigration officials reported around 479 detainees remain at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia and more expected to arrive in the coming days.
Burch says Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials briefed Artesia officials on the latest numbers during a weekly meeting.
ICE spokeswoman Leticia Zamarripa says 324 detainees have been deported to Central America since the center opened three months ago.
The Justice Department's Executive Office for Immigration Review says it told The AP a "special request" taking 10 to 15 days was required for information on immigration judges' latest decisions.
Democrat Gary King Back On TV In Governor's Race - The Associated Press
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gary King has returned to the airwaves with a television ad targeting Republican Gov. Susana Martinez for her veto of a minimum wage increase.
King launched the ad late last week, ending a month-long break when his campaign wasn't on the air while Republican Gov. Susana Martinez continued to target the Democrat with hard-hitting advertising.
According to the Center for Public Integrity, Martinez had spent six times more than King on TV advertising before the Democrat launched his latest ad.
Martinez rejected legislation that would have increased the state's minimum wage from $7.50 an hour to $8.50. King advocates raising the wage floor to about $10 an hour.
Former Lab Employee To Team Up With Watchdog Group - The Associated Press and Santa Fe New Mexican
A former employee of Los Alamos National Laboratory plans to team up with a Santa Fe-based nuclear watchdog group to monitor U.S. progress on its global commitment to draw down nuclear weapons.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that James Doyle had previous worked for years at Los Alamos National Laboratory as a nuclear weapons monitor, but was fired in July.
He will team up with the nonprofit Nuclear Watch New Mexico.
The lab blamed Doyle's departure on budget cuts, but Doyle attributes it to retaliation over an academic article he wrote saying the U.S. should get rid of its nuclear stockpile rather than maintaining it, one of the lab's central missions.
School Districts Sue New Mexico Over Funding - The Associated Press and Santa Fe New Mexican
Three New Mexico school districts are suing the state in order to gain more funding for students.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Santa Fe, Gallup-McKinley County and the Moriarty-Edgewood School Districts allege in their lawsuit that current student funding levels violate the state Constitution, which calls for a sufficient education for every child.
The state of New Mexico and the Public Education Department are named as defendants in the lawsuit, which was filed in state District Court in Santa Fe.
The districts are asking the state to change its funding formula so students who are learning English or living in poverty get equal funding.
Navajo President Attends Game With Redskins Owner - The Associated Press
The president of the country's largest American Indian reservation appears to be a supporter of the Washington Redskins.
Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly, wearing a Redskins cap, was seated next to Redskins owner Dan Snyder as the team played the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in Glendale.
The president's spokesman, Deswood Tome, says Shelly was there to discuss an NFL franchising agreement involving Navajo artists.
Tome says Shelly believes challenges for the Navajo, such as education and job creation, take "far more precedence more than a mascot name."
Shelly's presence coincides with a rally by nearly 100 demonstrators outside University of Phoenix Stadium earlier in the day.
Some Native American leaders say the name is a racial slur.
Snyder has vowed to never change the name, saying it honors Native Americans.
New Mexico Hospital Sued Over Patient Data Breach - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal
A New Mexico woman is suing a hospital and its parent company, saying their negligence led to hackers obtaining personal information belonging to her and more than 4 million other patients.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that attorneys are seeking class-action status for a lawsuit filed on behalf of Briana Brito.
The suit alleges Brito had personal data stolen while hospitalized at Alta Vista Regional Hospital in Las Vegas.
Brito says Tennessee-based Community Health Systems, which owns the hospital, didn't notify patients in a timely manner.
The suit is requesting restitution for any losses from identity theft, consumer credit protection and insurance.
A company spokesman declined to comment.
Group To Track Albuquerque Police Shootings - The Associated Press and KRQE-TV
A New Mexico nonprofit is creating an online database for records pertaining to fatal shootings involving Albuquerque police.
KRQE-TV reports New Mexico Compass, a startup that advocates open records law, says the database would provide details of shootings since 2010.
Deputy Director Joe Cardillo says public police records, pictures, video and witness and family accounts will be available as context in each case.
The site will include cases that have sparked protests such as the March 16 shooting of James Body, a mentally ill homeless man.
Cardillo says the database is not about making anyone out to be a hero or a villain.
He hopes it will be online by January.
The group set up an online crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, which ends Wednesday.
NMSU adopts bylaws for Aggie Development Corp.
New Mexico State University's newly formed nonprofit corporation is taking shape.
The Board of Regents have adopted bylaws for Aggie Development Corp.
The tax-exempt firm was created earlier this year to help the university better manage and develop its land, property and water assets. Among its tasks, creating new public-private partnerships to benefit the university and community.
All of the corporation's net revenue will be contributed to the university.
A seven-person board oversees the corporation. Members include NMSU President Garrey Carruthers and Regents Mike Cheney and Kari Mitchell.
Crew puts out fire at home for autistic children
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A crew from the Albuquerque Fire Department put out a fire at a care home for autistic children.
A care worker who tried to attack the blaze Sunday night with a fire extinguisher before the crew arrived suffered smoke inhalation.
She was treated at the scene.
No one else was injured.
Everyone who was in the home was taken to another location.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.